Flour dump



V Dec. 28 1.926.l

L. O. LUCKA ET AL FLOUR DUMP Filed Jan. 2l, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1MM wmf Dec.. 28 1926.

L... o. LucKA ET Al..

FLOUR 'DUMP 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filedv Jan. 21,

l 535M- Em@ 'lil Patented Een. 2S, i926?.

UNETEE) TENT OFFICE.

LOUIS O. LUCKA AND JOHN W'. EASLEY, 0F DECATUR, LLINOIS.

rhone DUMP.

Application led January 2l, 1926. Serial No. 82,864.

This invention relates to certain improvements in fiour dumps; and the nature and objects of the invention will be readily recognized and understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation and detailed description of the accompanying drawings illustrating what we at present consider to be the preferred embodiment or mechanical expression of our invention from among various other forms, arrangements, combinations and constructions of which the invention .is capable within the spirit and the scope thereof.

vWith the bins or hoppers for iiour employed in connection with dough mixers and such like machines used in bakeries, considerable dificulty is experienced with the closures for such bins and hopper-s by which therflour discharge therefrom is controlled, due to the vibration and jars caused by operation of the closures, which result in the creation of objectionable dust from the flour, as well as injury or possible inaccuracies in the scales or weighing apparatus generally f' operatively combined or associated with such bins or hoppers. Further problems and diliiculties arise from the desirability Of quickly opening and closing the bins or hoppers to discharge iiour therefrom and to f cut off or stop the discharge with a minimum possibility of the closures or their operating mechanism sticking or clogging with flour, and of the escape of flour with the bin or hopper closed against discharge.

Therefore, one of the main aims of the present invention is to provide a flour dump for flour bins and hoppers in which vibration is reduced to a minimum and which can be quickly opened or closed to discharge flour or cut o discharge thereof from a bin or hopper with the possibility of failure in the dump due to clogging by flour practically eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a discharge or dump for iiour and the like bins or hoppers, which embodies swinging closures and a positive a( tion operating mechanism therefor formed of a series of links and levers to produce a smooth rapid operation of the closures to and from discharge .position with a minimum of vibration and which in closed position are substantially locked against accident-al displacement to prevent leakage or spi-lling of flour from the bin or hopper.

installed on a flour bin or hopper at relativelly lowcost and which is efficient in operation requiring a minimum of care in use.

With the foregoing general objects and certain other objects and results in View, which other objects and results will be readily recognized by those familiar with the art from the following description, the invention consists in certain novel features in construction and in combinations and arrangements of elements, as will be more particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several figures thereof:

Fig. l, is a view in top plan of the bottom or base wall of a flour bin or hopperv having a discharge opening therethrough with the closures and operating mechanism therefor of the invention mounted thereon, the closures being shown in closed position.

Fig. 2, is a view in side elevation of a flour bin with the closures and operating mechanism in closed position, a portion only of the bin being shown.

Fig. 3, is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the closures and operating mechanism in partially opened position.-

`While the invention is primarily intended for use with bins or hoppers for fiour as a solution of the hereinbefore mentioned problems and difficulties, it is not limited to this use but is of general application for the 4discharge of material from receptacles, particularly material of the line or powdered types, as will be readily recognized and appreciated by those familiar with the discharge of materials from bins or the like receptacles.

A possible mechanical embodiment of the principles and features of the invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings by way of example and not of limitation, as applied to and installed on a flour bin or hopper l0 (see Figs. 2 andr 3) of the type employed in connection with dough mixing or the like machinery and operatively associated or combined with weighing scales (not shown) in the usual manner Well unfully and i derstood in the art. The hopper or bin l is provided with a bottom throat 11 fornr ing a lower discharge opening` to and through the base or bottom plate 12, Which extends laterally from and around the lower end of the bin and 'discharge throat 11, forming in effect a platform for the bin. Y the use of the bin, it is necessary to dis- Ycharge flour therefrom at intervals through the discharge throat and plate .l2 and to cut olf discharge therefrom at other times.

According to the invention, a pair of vertically swinging' closures or doors lll are mounted on the bottom plate 12 adjacent opposite sides of the discharge opening for swinging upwardly to rposition across and closing` the bin, and for 'doWnr-Jard movement te substantially vertical position removed fromand completely opening' the bin discharge. Each door lll is fixed to a shaft which is mounted in journal boxes or suitable bearings 1'3 at opposite ends of the hopper discharge opening` and fixed tothe bottom plate 12 on the unoer side thereof, so that the door is swing'able on a horizontal axis along its outer edge. adjacent and a side of the opening' from the hopper. Each door in raised closed position o fcupies vhalf the discharge opening' with their free edges meeting and ea h extends at its ends and outer sides a slight distance beyond the opening' as shoivn by dotted lines in F 1 ln closed position the doors lit tigntly against the under side of the plate 12 at their extended portions., and one of the d 14. is provided with a lip or shoulder along' its free edge to lit over and form a seal With the edge of the opposite door in closed posit-ion. Y

Gperating mechanism is provided i'. the example hereof manually operable although not so limited for opening' and. closing the doors le to permit discharge of off discharge thereof, from the bin 10. rhe door shafts 15 are extended at adjacent ends thereof a distance beyond the journals or l-earing's 16 and vertically disposed arms 1Q are lixed thereon for rota .ion therevvith. The arms 18 are extended upwardly through elongated slots or openings 19 (see Fig. 1) formed through the plate 12 to permit the arms to freely oscillate or rocl through an arc of the required length. Adjacent the outer edge of the bottom or base plate 12, intermediate the arms 18, shaft hanger or standard 2O is fixed thereon and extending upwardly a distance therefrom With a horizontally disposed shaft bearing 21 on the upper end thereof substantially parallel with the door shafts 15 a shaft 22 is rotatably mounted in and extending' through the bearing' 21, and a crank arm 28 is lined on the outer end of shaft 22 for rotation therevvith. The arm 23 is ldisposed for rotation in a vertical plane spaced outwardly from flour, or cut.

the edge of plate 12 so as to clear the same, as the arm is of a length in depending position to extend a distance below the plate, as will Vbe clear by reference to Fig'. 2 in particular. lin operating handle'21l is fixed on the lower end of arm 23 extending' outwardly therefrom for manual turning' or swinging of the arm.

The crank arn- 23 and shaft 22 are operatively coupled with the arms 18 sov as vto simultaneously actuate the same to swing the. closures or doors 1s'- to open and closed position. A double throw cross arm is fixed on and extending across the inner end of the vso shaft 22 for rotation therewith and an elongated opening` 26 (see 1) is formed in the bott-om plate 12 of the bin 10 to permit of free rotationof the cross arm Without interference from Athe plate or engagement thereof by the ends of the cross arm in operation. Cross arm 25 is mounted on shaft in position transversely With respect to the cranlr arin 23 at theouter end .of the shaft, so that with arm 23 in depending position, the cross arm 25 is in substantially horizon tally disposed position, as shown by Fig. 2. rllheopposite ends of cross arm or crank 2l are operatively coupled or connected with the door operating arms 18 by the links' or levers 2k' pivotally coupled therebetween, respectively. rlhe arrangement and relative position of links 2l', is such that With the doors 1-1 in closed position and arms 18 in vertical position inclined outwardly, the cross arm 2o is in its substantially horizontal position and connected to the arms 1S by the links 27 which are in their extended position While the crank arm 23 is in vertical:

position 'depending' from shaft 22. rhis closed position of the doors 14 and operating' mechanism is shown by Figs. the drawings.

ln the example hereof, the base plate 12 of bin or hopper lois projected or extended at one side of the shaft hanger or standard 2O to rinthe projecting'shoulder V28'pro'- vidiiuil a stop within the path of rotation of, crank arm 23 to preventA its rotation inthatdirection, although the invention Yis not 'limited to the provisionof 'such a stop. ln order to loci; and niaintain the crank arm-23 in its depending position closing` doors. l14,1 a

spring actuated latch or eatchis provided which in the present instance embodies a plate 29 pivotally mounted on a pin or axis 30 intermediate its endsq below the base plate 12 along the edge thereof adjacent standard 20 and extending past the path'of rotation of cranl arm 23. yThe pivotally mountedplate 29 is provided With a projecting notched catch 51 Within the path of arm 23 and adapted to receive and holdthe arm in depending' position7 as will be vclear by ref-f erence to 'Figs 1 and 2. il spring` 32'is connected to one end of the plate 29 and normal-` 1 and 2 ofy ifa-i Cil CII

ly maintains the same in position with catch 31 in the path of arm 23 for receiving the same. At the opposite end the latch forming plate 29 is formed with an outwardly and upwardly extending finger 32 by which the plate and catch can be swung inwardly to position releasing arm 23 therefrom.

1n operation, with the doors 14 in closed position and the operating crank arm 23 in depending position locked by latch or catch 29-31, when it is desired to open doors 14 and discharge a quantity of flour therefrom, the latch 31 is swung to releasing position by pressing finger 32 inwardly, and the arm 23 is then swung or rotated upwardly. in the direction shown by the arrows in Figs. 2 and Rotation of arm 23 rotates shaft 22, and the cross arm 25 is rotated to swing the opposite ends thereof in a direction away from the door arms 18, respectively adjacent thereto and to which arms the ends of cross arm 25 are connected by tne links 27, respectively. Thus the door 18 are swung or rocked inwardly toward each other to swing the shafts and doors 14 mounted thereon, downwardly to open position as shown in Fig. 3. Continued rotation of crank arm 23 in the direction shown, through the medium of cross arm 25 and links 2?, rocks the .door arms further inwardly and downwardly until the doors ld are in fully opened depending position as shown in dotted outline in F ig. 3. With the doors in open position, reverseI rotation of arm 23 from its upward, open position to downward position, swings the doors upwardly into the closed position shown in F ig. 2, and as the arm 23 reaches depending` door closing position, it snaps into and is received by the latch or catch 2.9-31 to hold the same into door closing position.

The invention thus provides a dump mechanism for bins and hoppers in which swinging closures are actuated by operating mechanism so designed and arranged that the doors are not only positively and quickly swung to and from closed position, but are so swung with a minimum of vibration without material shock or jar to the bin or hopper.

This is an important consideration with liour bins to eliminate the creation of dust from jarring or vibrating a bin, as well as with such bins where they are employed in operative connection with more or less delicate weighing apparatus on which the effect of vibration is injurious and tends to inaccurate operation of such apparatus. It will be further noted that due to the mounting of the swinging doors or closures le they are swung to open position completely removed from and unobstructing the discharge from the bin or hopper, and in closed position fit tightly against the bin base plate 12 and extend completely over and across the discharge opening to effectively seal the same and prevent escape or leakage of flour or other material in the bin. The arrangement and construction of the ope-rating mechanism with the double-throw cross arm 25 and links 27 connecting the same with the closure arms 18, is such that extremely smooth actuation of the doors is obtained, and in open position thereof, as well as in closed position the links and double throw arm tend to lock and hold the doors against accidental displacement thereof. i

It is also evident that various changes, modifications, variations might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention and hence we do not lwish to limit ourselves to the exact and specific disclosures hereof.

Desiring to protect our invention inthe broadest manner legally possible, what we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. ln combination with. a flour bin having a bottom discharge and a base plate projecting laterally therefrom adjacent the lower end thereof, swinging doors `pivotally mounted along opposite sides of said discharge to said base plate for upward movement eX- tending across and closing said discharge and for downward movement to positions removed from and unobstructing the discharge, and operating means for said doors mounted on the laterally projecting portion of said base plate removed from the bin and the discharge therefrom.

2. 1n combination, a flour bin having a bottom discharge opening, a base plate surrounding and extending laterally from said opening through which the bin discharges, swinging doors pivotally mounted on horizontal axis along opposite sides of said opening and spaced outwardly therefrom, said doors in closed position swung upwardly to extend completely over and across said discharge opening and in open position swung downwardly to vertical positions at opposite sides of and removed from said opening, and operating means for opening and closing said doors mounted on the projecting portion of said base plate adjacent one end of said doors and completely removed from and unobstructing said bin or the discharge opening therefrom.

3. In combination with a bin having a bottom discharge opening, swinging closures mounted on shafts along opposite sides of the discharge opening, said closures in closed position swung upwardly and extending over and across said opening to completely close the same, arms iiXed to adjacent ends of said shafts, a rotary member mounted intermediate said arms, and links operatively connecting said shaft arms with opposite sides, respectively, of said rotary member whereby rotation of said member in one direction will swing said varms to simultaneously open said closures Vwith the linksand rotary `member in substantially laterally alined position, and in. theV opposite. direction will swingV said arms,toiisiinultaneously close said closures with-.the links and Si'otaryn'iember in `substantially:longitudinally alined position.

4.'- In combination with, bin having a bottoni discharge opening-,- a` base plate sur-V rounding and disposed horizontally from T'Said openingysha'fts rotatably mounted at the V moved froinsaid discharge opening.

5. ln combination with a bin-having a bottoinV discharge. opening, a base plate siii'- rounding said opening, shafts rotatably mounted beneath said yplate along opposite sides of the discharge opening, doors fixed to said shafts for swinging movement thereby to and from position .across and closing saidv opening', vertically disposed arins i'ixed to adjacent ends oi' said shafts, respectively,

and extending: upwardly ythrough said base plate, .an operating shal'tmounted on said.

. s2. base plate in position thereabeve intermediate said arins, a cross-arm liXedy to said operating shatt, .links pivotally connected "betweentlie opposite ends of said cross arm and lsaid shatt arms, respectively, a crank liandlelixed to saidoperating shaft` for-rotating the saine, and spring controlled latch niechanismi'or engaging said crank handle to maintain thesaineiin positionfwithsaid doors swungv to closed' position.

6; In combination. with abinhavinga bot-1 toni discharge opening,ta horizontally diss4 posed baseV plate surroundingsaid. opening, shafts rotatably mounted beneath said plate:

along opposite sides of the discharge opensA ing, doors fixed to said shafts `for swinging movement thereby to'r and from. positiontV across and. closing tnenpening, vertically disposed arins tixed to adjacent ends-'of sai-d2.'v shafts, respectivelfgand extending upwardly i through openings inthe base plate,..an.op'

erating" shaft mounted 2 intermediate saidA arms labove the base plate,'a cross arm iiiredVVA to said operating shaft, links pivotally connectcd between. the lopposite ends effi saidf cross arm and 'said shaft arms, respectively,4 and means for. rotatingsaid operating shaft and cross arm/.to .roclafsaid shaft arinsand' simultaneously:swing,said doors lto positiony opening or closing the bin discharge.`

7. ln combination witha bin having a bot# i toni disfhaifoe opening,v shafts rotatably mounted along opposite sides of said opening,

doors fixed to said shafts for swinging,nievesl r ent thereby to and from positi'oniacross and .i closing the .discharge opening, vertically disf posed arms fixed on adjacent. ends for' 'saidshaft nieuntedf intermediate said sha-ft Y arms, a.v

shafts, respectively, an Operating cross ai-in liXedto-said operating shatt,linls l pivotally connecting the-opposite: ends. ot

said cross arm with the ends oiisaid shaft.

arins, respectively, and a .crank for rotating said operating -shatt'aiid cross 4arm, forwsiinultaneously swinging said doors downwardly to position removed from' and open-I ing the bin discharge, `or.upwardly'to posi-1 tion @ross and closing said opening.

Signed Decatur, Illinois, this-lQth'day of January, 1926. LOUIS "0. LUCKA;

JOHN Wh EASLETY. 

